Replies

1. 
   DanH | Aug 06, 2012 07:51am | #1

   If you plan on the siding being "natural color", why are you sealing it?  (Do you know what "natural" cedar looks like?)

1. 
   andy8156 | Aug 06, 2012 01:26pm | #3

   RE

   I want the siding to keep, as close as possible, the color it is when I install it.  Whether that is the "natural" color or not.  I do know I want to protect it from premature failure and from the uneven, black and gray streaking I have seen.  It may be that I have to actually coat it with a stain that is close to the "natural" color.  I have read in the past about a method of immersing the siding in the preservative/stain/sealer prior to installing and it semed to be a good way of applying large amounts of coating to the siding in a short period of time.

   Thanks for the comments.

2. 
   calvin | Aug 06, 2012 08:22am | #2

   andy

   A couple things-

   There's alot of siding on a house.   Look into getting it predone by the distributor of your siding products.

   and

   Clear sealer is the shortest lasting protective finish you can put on an exterior product.  As it wears non uniformly, you may go nuts trying to keep that nice honey brown color from changing.

   Best of luck in your new home.

3. 
   Piffin | Aug 12, 2012 07:54pm | #4

   first - no matter what you do, it will not stay blonde. Just like any natural blonde, it will go grey eventually

   For the best 'natrual' look, get Maibec prestained with a Cabot bleaching oil, thne plan to re-apply every 3-4 years

4. 
   semar | Sep 25, 2012 07:59pm | #5

   sealing cedar siding

   check out the website from Sikkens re material used

   make sure the backside is sealed also. If not it will go grey or black on you in later years.

   I found the most economical way is to have it sealed by a company that has the right equipment spraying it.

   If you want to do it yourself, build a trough to the longest length and slop it on. Any overuse can be used again from the trough. Trough construction: bottom plate wider than the siding, sides usually 2x6, line with 6mil poly. Lay siding on blocks in the trough and use a short mohair pad and soak it well. Drying rack would be nice, since very few people have something like that,the presealed method (company) is the better and faster way